Ireland were pipped at the post in a gripping finale to the Women's Amateur Home International Championship at a rain-sodden Whitchurch in Cardiff yesterday.

A six-foot putt on the last green by Scotland's British Open stroke-play champion Pamela Pretswell denied Ireland their first title for six years.

That clinching putt meant a 5-4 win for the Scots, who lifted the Miller Trophy for the first time since 1991.

If Maguire and Pretswell had halved, the match would also have been halved and Ireland would have carried off the title by virtue of having secured more individual points.

"So near, yet so far," was the verdict of Irish captain Claire Robinson.

Scotland won the foursomes 2-1 and in the afternoon singles Mary Dowling lost on the last green to Kelsey Macdonald. Danielle McVeigh was in scintillating form to crush Jane Turner 6&5 and Lisa Maguire, with a 100 pc record in the series, beat Rachel Watton on the home hole.

Sinead O'Sullivan was always down in her match, but Charlene Reid held on for victory.

England finished with the wooden spoon after being held 4.5-4.5 by Wales. They were bottom of the pile having gained fewer individual points than Wales.